Rose M. Hardison, 96

Rose M. Hardison, 96, lifelong resident of South Jamesport, a respected and avid bay woman, died March 3, 2018.

She was born on July 25, 1921 to the late Adam Kowalski and Rose Marion Raciniewski (Rogers) Kowalski.

Rose served in the U.S. Navy in World War II as an aviation machinist mate third class where she was an airport mechanic inspector for TBMs, TBYs, Corsairs and Wildcats. She thoroughly enjoyed clamming, scalloping and fishing our on the bay for years, many of which she was the only full-time female scalloper in the area. There was no challenge she wasn’t willing to take on.

Predeceased by her husband, Henry Shelton Hardison and her brothers, Adam (Chip) and Benjamin Kowalski, she
is survived by her children, Carolyn (Michael) Fletcher of The Plains, Virginia, Diane Ekster of New Suffolk, New York, Robert Hardison of Lake Jackson, Texas and Frances Wood. Rose is also survived by her seven grandchildren, Dave and Sara Raynor, Emily Fletcher, Christopher and Jonathan Hardison, Aaron and Marc DeLyser and by five great-grandchildren.

The family received friends on March 8 at the DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck, where religious services were held, officiated by Father Mariusz Gorazd. Interment with U.S. Navy honors took place on March 9 at Calverton National Cemetery.

Donations may be made to the North Fork Animal Welfare League, P.O. Box 297, Southold, New York 11971 in her memory.